About Us

Today

Lion Hudson is committed to publishing quality literature, worldwide, which is true to the Christian faith. We publish books for adults and children under five different imprints. Lion Books, Lion Children’s Books, and Lion Fiction take accessible books that reflect a Christian worldview to a general audience while Candle Books and Monarch Books support Christian families, individuals and communities in their devotional and spiritual lives. Our books sell around the world and are translated into over 200 languages. International co-edition publishing is a particular strength with more than half our sales made in export markets.

History

Lion Hudson plc resulted from the merger in December 2003 of Lion Publishing plc and Angus Hudson Ltd. The merger created the largest independent publisher of books inspired by the Christian faith in the UK. The company is owned by over 700 individual and institutional investors. Lion Publishing was founded in 1971 by David and Pat Alexander in order to publish books with a Christian worldview for a general audience in collaboration with international publishing partners. Angus Hudson founded Hudson International in 1977 to publish international co-editions for Christian communities around the world. In the 1990s Hudson International acquired Candle Books and Monarch Books.

Recognition

Lion Hudson books have won numerous prizes including the Smarties Prize for children’s fiction for Pauline Fisk’s Midnight Blue; the Angouleme International Graphic Book Festival award for The Lion Graphic Bible; and more than twenty prizes at the annual UK Christian Book Awards. In 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Lion Hudson was UK Christian Resources Together Publisher of the Year.

Aslan Trust

Established in the early 1980s, the Aslan Trust’s remit is to publish the Christian faith worldwide. The principal way in which it does this is to provide grants to local Christian publishers and writers in the developing world with a view to strengthening Christian publishing overseas. Grants have been made for capital infrastructure and training of writers, editors and others involved in publishing in many countries around the world. The Trust also makes occasional grants to other imaginative schemes for advancing the Christian faith, both in the UK and abroad. In recent years beneficiaries have included youth projects, a Christian theatre company and books for child victims of crime.

The Trustees are the Directors of Lion Hudson plc. Further information is available from The Company Secretary, Lion Hudson plc, Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford, OX2 8DR, England, UK. Email: companysecretary@lionhudson.com.

Environmental Policy

It is our policy to use materials in our books which minimise environmental impact. All our black and white books are printed on paper and cover board derived from sustainable forests. This is independently audited.

Wherever possible, our colour books are also printed on paper derived from sustainable forests, though cover materials may not be. This is because auditing organisations have more work than they can cope with and because not all paper mills throughout the world are completely open with information about the sources of their raw materials. As more such papers are certified from sustainable forests we will use them in our colour books.

Any new printer we work with has ICTI approved status, or has proven equivalent certification. This means that we have independent proof that all our printers are maintaining an ethical manufacturing program aimed at ensuring a safe and humane workplace environment for their workers.

All our children's books conform to EN71, ASTM or CPSIA requirements. These tests are independently carried out by third party testing houses and ensure our books conform to the highest standards of safety for the end user.

Our Services

Lion Hudson collaborates with a select group of publishers offering a variety of sales representation and distribution services including editorial, design, production, sales, marketing, PR, distribution and customer service. We export English language editions of our books around the world through several long-term distribution partners. We also hold publishing rights for most of the titles on our website and offer a complete co-edition service for colour and illustrated books.